Psalm 30: Title: Joy Cometh In The Morning Series

July 16, 2014

Tom Lowe

Psalm 30 (KJV)

Title: Joy Cometh in the Morning

A Psalm of David.

Psalm 30 (KJV)

1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Introduction

The scope of the Psalm corresponds well with a state of rest, and meditation on his past trials. The psalm begins with a celebration of God's delivering favor, in which he invites others to join him; he relates his prayer during a time of distress, and God's gracious and prompt answer.

Commentary

1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

I will extol thee, O Lord

Or “lift thee up on high.” The name of the Lord is high above all other names, He is the Most High; and in His nature, there is none besides Him, and there is none like Him; He dwells in the high and holy place; He is above all angels and men; He is above all gods; He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords; He cannot be higher than He is: to extol Him, therefore, is to declare Him to be what He actually is. The psalmist was determined to exalt Him with high praises. The word translated here as “extol” is rendered exalt in other places:

• Psalm 34:3: “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

• Psalm 99.5: “Exalt you the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.”

• Psalm 99:9: “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.”

David might say: ‘“I will extol thee.’ I will have high and honorable conceptions of thee, and give them utterance in my best music. Others may forget thee, murmur at thee, despise thee, blaspheme thee, but "I will extol thee," for I have been favored above all others. I will extol thy name, thy character, thine attributes, thy mercy to me, thy great forbearance to my people; but, especially will I speak well of thyself; ‘I will extol thee,’ O Jehovah, this shall be my cheerful and constant business.’” He would make God first and supreme in his thoughts and affections; he would do what he could to make Him known; he would elevate Him high in his praises.

for thou hast lifted me up

The Hebrew word used here for “lifted” means ‘to draw out,’ as from a well; and ‘to deliver,’ and ‘to set free.’ Because God had lifted him up, it was appropriate that he would show his gratitude by "lifting up" or extolling the name of God.

“For thou hast lifted me up,” that is to say: from the depths of trouble; from the pit of Sheol; He draws out of it by his effective grace. From the low estate of being unregenerate, and unrepentant. From the mire and clay of sin and misery, in which all men are while unconverted; and out of which they cannot lift themselves, being without strength, and dead in sin: this is God's work. He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, and this is an instance of his grace and mercy. This may regard some great fall into sin, from which he was restored, through the grace and power of God. He was lifted up above his enemies, which agrees very well with his being brought to his palace and throne again, upon the defeat of Absalom. He had been drawn up like a prisoner from a dungeon, like Joseph out of the pit, and therefore he loved his deliverer. The Psalmist's praise was reasonable. He had a reason to give the praise that was in his heart. Grace has uplifted us from the pit of hell, from the ditch of sin, from the Quagmire of despondency, from the bed of sickness, from the bondage of doubts and fears. How high has our Lord lifted us? Lifted us up into the children's place, to be adopted into the family of God; lifted us up into union with Christ, “to sit together with him in heavenly places.” Lift high the name of our God, for he has lifted us above the stars.